Best remakes?

[Turbo Kid]

You can mention fan made stuff because I know some of you will want to, but I'm thinking mainly of officially released stuff. This one is a gold standard to me:

Tearaway seemed promising too but I never finished it. The original game was a masterpiece though

 

[RustySK]

I feel like the crown still has to go to REmake when it comes to remakes.
Keeps the spirit of the original alive while expanding it both mechanically and content-wise and also improving the visuals in a gorgeous, considered style.

Personally I also really enjoy Resident Evil 2 Remake, but with that one I can totally understand the argument that it loses too much of what defined the original to be considered on the same level as REmake.

(Also, Odin's Sphere is such a gem, I really wish Vanillaware would just port their catalogue to PC already!)

 

[jon2]

 

[garbodorman]

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

 

[Rox00]

Fire Emblem: Echoes is one of the best remakes I've played, up there with something like RE 4 Remake. It remakes heavily on Fire Emblem Gaiden (or FE 2 back on the NES) in general from the story, character design and literally everything that's not the map design (very annoying for the record lol) while adding more to the game such as skills, new characters, and extra lore from Awakening alongside a little tease for Archanea lore (for those not aware, the main Marth games). It's a great FE in general and a remake that delivers on remaking the game completely, I'd recommend as it stands out on it's own and at most the Archanea aspects are just small references (that also adds more if you played FE 3/FE 12 prior) for those who know. Hop on Fire Emblem: Echoes!

Character design differences for those who want to see:

 

[Heidegger22]

The only correct answer.

 

[RETRO-VETRO RETRO-VETRO]

• Resident Evil 2 (2019)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)
• Dead Space (2023)
• Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
• Demon’s Souls (2020)
• Metroid: Zero Mission (2004)
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (2020)
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019)
• Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver (2009)
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011)
• Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020)
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017)
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018)
• Resident Evil 4 (2023)
• System Shock (2023)
• Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)
• Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020)
• Trials of Mana (2020)
• Live A Live (2022)
• Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (2023)
• Persona 3 Reload (2024)
• The Last of Us Part I (2022)
• Kirby: Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)

 

[sneakyguts]

 

[Evil Pope]

 

[ThunderBoy]

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

 

[Neb Lleb]

I feel like the crown still has to go to REmake when it comes to remakes.
Keeps the spirit of the original alive while expanding it both mechanically and content-wise and also improving the visuals in a gorgeous, considered style.

Personally I also really enjoy Resident Evil 2 Remake, but with that one I can totally understand the argument that it loses too much of what defined the original to be considered on the same level as REmake.

(Also, Odin's Sphere is such a gem, I really wish Vanillaware would just port their catalogue to PC already!)

RE is my pick for the best as well! Even after I played the OG game, I can't help but prefer REmake due to its large amount of refinements and how it's the logical culmination of all the improvements made over the past entries.

Dead Space is a close second: Since EA decided not to continue the franchise because MUH PROFITS, the remake now serves as the franchise's swansong after the bad Dead Space 3, not unlike how Picard Season 3 was the new swansong for the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew after Nemesis and the Chabon seasons of the latter pissed off millions. And by god is it a fantastic way to go out. All the improvements, all the refinements to the combat, the visceral gore, the open environments.... good times.

 

[Vardalis]

I feel like the crown still has to go to REmake when it comes to remakes.
Keeps the spirit of the original alive while expanding it both mechanically and content-wise and also improving the visuals in a gorgeous, considered style.

Personally I also really enjoy Resident Evil 2 Remake, but with that one I can totally understand the argument that it loses too much of what defined the original to be considered on the same level as REmake.

(Also, Odin's Sphere is such a gem, I really wish Vanillaware would just port their catalogue to PC already!)

Completely agree with REMake. It's the only one I can think of off the top of my head that hasn't eventually been superseded completely by the original game after the hype and honeymoon period has worn off with a remake, which it has time and again with others like RE2Make, Silent Hill 2 Remake or Persona 3 Reload.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

None. Play the originals, you casuals. /j

All jokes aside, Super Mario All-Stars is my gold standard. Resident Evil 4 Remake is great too, even if I still prefer the original.

 

[JoueurCitoyen]

You've named quite a few already (Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, Resident Evil, Pokémon HGSS, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter).

This year, I was very surprised by this one:

 

[wilddogsdivorce]

Persona 3 Reload is pretty great, not all encompassing but a nice modernization of FES. The geneforge remakes are insane, and well deserved. not sure if it counts, but the katamari PC ports are also amazing. SMT 5 vengeance is such an improvement i do honestly consider it a remake. if you play, ignore the original story and just go for the new one.

 

[Rocket2049]

Star Ocean the Second story R
THIS ABSOLUTE AMAZING REMAKE
upgraded combat system
added support summons (characters form other Star ocean games assist you)
enemies visible on map and ability to instant kill weak enemies (this is Broken in terms of powerlevelling)
huge gameplay changes,
A NEW GAME PLUS MODE (NO STAR OCEAN HAS A NEW GAME PLUS OTHER THAN THIS ONE)
icons for freaking EVERYTHING, you won't miss anything missable long as you're checking for it
fast travel which is absolutely important if you hate missing stuff (read above again)
and god damn, idk what else, its just a fun remake, played through it 6 times getting all 99 endings

Dragon quest 3 HD (and upcoming 1 and 2 HD)
dude, idc if you've played all versions of DQ3 out there (I have)
this is THE VERSION, so much is actually NEW (Story scenes that are VOICED, actual cutscenes too, flash back scenes not in original, story plot not in original)
new job class, and finding monsters to join you (only for the monster arena) and a few other new side quest like things.
much more postgame too!
the visuals are sure gorgeous too (wish they didn't stick to 2d characters though)
the DQ1 and 2 remake is gonna have SO MUCH NEW CONTENT, i mean DQ2 adding a new party member to make it 4 instead of 3, new areas, and prob side quests
DQ1 just had a lot mentioned on trailers and news i can't even call it DQ1 anymore
oh and DQ7 remake
Dragon quest fans are gonna be feeling great!

Trails in the sky 1st chapter remake
it's really close to the original, but FULLY 3d, FULLY voice acted (eng and jap)
an interesting mix of quick (action) combat and command (turn-based), mostly turn-based but VERY fast turn based (with options to make it 2x/3x/4x turnbased and 1.5/2x out of battle)
such a good remake, yet somehow still closely matches the old one (on PC and PSP)

FF tactics Ivalice chronicles
i personally LOVE this remake over the ORIGINAL (ps1 and PSP both)
for one, difficulty settings, man do i like the game on easy mode,
it's not THAT easy (like 30% less damage to you, 30% more to enemies) but it helps me plenty
and full voice acting of all dialog, much more dialog too, and even the novel books on JP version are english now.
and a lot of QOL, autosave (5 autosave slots, even during a fight per turn), retry/escape battles freely
don't listen to people moaning about BAW NO EXTRA CHAR OR CLASS, its still very well done remake.
and it comes with the original (PS1) GAME too if you rather go old school!
oh i almost forgot, freaking FAST FORWARD, like its a massive help to speed up this slog of a game.

Pacman world repac 2
it has a 2 player mode, whole bunch of extra stuff, and pac-man TALKS!? absolutely gorgeous too

the new Tokyo Xtreme Racer (PC)
not a remake, but i mean, sticks to its roots closely and feels like a remake
as someone else put it "it feels like a PS2 game, in all the right ways"

other honorable mentions:
Hexen+heretic collectin
YS Memoire the oath in felghana, really any Ys remaster/remake, or anything falcom related
FF12 zodiac age (much improved over PS2 versions)
FF type-0 HD
Persona 3 reload, P4 golden, P5 royal
SMT5 vengance
dragon quest 11 S (there's enough new to warrant it, 2d mode is very different, more postgame, etc)
Super mario RPG (Switch)

 

[PSVitaForever]

Since I'm not really into old graphics, I've loved "Final Fantasy 3" remake on ds.
Anyway I've played ff1 on psp and enjoyed it, and ff2 and ff6 are in my backlog too!

 

[Rocket2049]

Since I'm not really into old graphics, I've loved "Final Fantasy 3" remake on ds.
Anyway I've played ff1 on psp and enjoyed it, and ff2 and ff6 are in my backlog too!

SE had the opportunity to make a best collection with Pixel remaster collection
...but since it's lack EVERY SINGLE EXTRA CONTENT OF ALL NEWER FF1 TRHOUGH 6
it's just Meh overalll...
not saying pixel remasters are 100% terrible, just zero newer content of 1 to 6 at all
like you're playing on NES or SNES with slightly better sound and visual.

FF1 and 2 PSP are without contest the BEST versions of FF1 and 2, with all extras from GBA ps1 and etc
FF3 3d is FF3 with slightly more story and 3d, possibly some extras i forgot about
FF5 was great on the "old" mobile version which has all GBA extras and redone graphics (can't be bought, got removed for the pixel series... i still have it as i bought it back then)
possibly could "download" old android/ios versions if needed from internet somewhere lol

 

[MegaDrive1987]

I feel like the crown still has to go to REmake when it comes to remakes.
Keeps the spirit of the original alive while expanding it both mechanically and content-wise and also improving the visuals in a gorgeous, considered style.

Personally I also really enjoy Resident Evil 2 Remake, but with that one I can totally understand the argument that it loses too much of what defined the original to be considered on the same level as REmake.

(Also, Odin's Sphere is such a gem, I really wish Vanillaware would just port their catalogue to PC already!)

Yeah I BEGGED for a GameCube for Christmas 2002 and the ONLY reason I wanted one was for this game, although I got Eternal Darkness with it too and discovered that masterpiece.

 

[rugal]

wild arms alter code F
brandish the dark revenant

 

[Kremiso]

Jet Set Willy, the Andy Noble remake (1999 Dos, 2004 Windows)

imo perfect versions to finally reach to complete that bastard :)

 

[PSVitaForever]

SE had the opportunity to make a best collection with Pixel remaster collection
...but since it's lack EVERY SINGLE EXTRA CONTENT OF ALL NEWER FF1 TRHOUGH 6
it's just Meh overalll...
not saying pixel remasters are 100% terrible, just zero newer content of 1 to 6 at all
like you're playing on NES or SNES with slightly better sound and visual.

FF1 and 2 PSP are without contest the BEST versions of FF1 and 2, with all extras from GBA ps1 and etc
FF3 3d is FF3 with slightly more story and 3d, possibly some extras i forgot about
FF5 was great on the "old" mobile version which has all GBA extras and redone graphics (can't be bought, got removed for the pixel series... i still have it as i bought it back then)
possibly could "download" old android/ios versions if needed from internet somewhere lol

So, if I can have ff2 on psp I should go with that and ignore the pixel remaster? I have a Switch so I was thinking about that.

 

[jankusanagi jankusanagi]

Completely agree on Resident Evil Remake. It's a perfect example of what a remake should be!

Also, the remake of Lunar: The Silver Star Story for the PSP, as Lunar: Silver Star Harmony. Just as great, but prettier, with better sound, and nicer overall.

Also, the remake for the PSP of the first Star Ocean into Star Ocean: First Departure, putting it in line with The Second Story.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Spyro the reignited Trilogy was good only finished the first Game but it was good
besides some tiny censorship in the End level

You see I don't hate all Remakes just most of them but sometimes a Remake comes out that is just a overall Improvement without any weird shitty changes.
Also the Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom Remake was mostly good with some smaller weird Changes.

Mostly to reverence newer Episodes which did not exist during the OG Game

 

[Neb Lleb]

Spyro the reignited Trilogy was good only finished the first Game but it was good
besides some tiny censorship in the End level

View attachment 118202
You see I don't hate all Remakes just most of them but sometimes a Remake comes out that is just a overall Improvement without any weird shitty changes.

Lemme guess.... The "Gnorcs-With-Guns", right?